Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra visits, performs in Vienna

Vivian Goodman/Special to The Plain DealerMembers of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra acknowledge applause after their performance Monday in Vienna's Minoritenkirche.

Vienna, Austria — Eyes widened and jaws slackened Tuesday morning as members of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra took a guided tour of Vienna’s historic Musikverein, classical music’s world capitol, although some in COYO would tell you the real destination is Severance Hall.

“It’s certainly very ornate, but it’s extremely beautiful,” said bassist Evan Gerber. “I’m a huge fan of the Vienna Philharmonic and would love to come back here and hear them play.”

This is Gerber’s first journey abroad. He said he’s aware of the rivalry between the Vienna Phil and the Cleveland Orchestra.

“I don’t choose sides,” he said, “But it’s very cool that [music director] Franz Welser-Most will conduct the New Year’s Day concert here next year.”

Welser-Most is also the leader of the Vienna State Opera and more of a hero than ever to COYO after hosting the young players Monday morning at the State Opera and that night applauding them from the pews of Vienna’s Minoritenkirche.

The 13th century Gothic church was the second venue in COYO’s first international tour after a triumph at Dvorak Hall in Prague.

Welser-Most is in Vienna this week conducting Verdi’s “Don Carlo.”

“Next to Cleveland, Vienna is my home ground,” said Welser-Most. It’s also the city where the great masterpieces premiered and Welser-Most is pleased at how eagerly COYO is soaking up its history.

“It’s just wonderful that they have this experience travelling. And playing in different venues is important to widen the horizon of a young musician.”

Welser-Most acknowledged the acoustics at the ancient church were not ideal, but he credited the players and their director, assistant conductor James Feddeck, for carefully adjusting their sound.

“It’s two for two,” said Joe Short, the Cleveland Orchestra’s stage manager, who went along to make sure the stages look right and the instruments are safely in the right places.

Short credits the Cleveland Orchestra’s education department for their choice of tour venues.

He says he relishes the enthusiasm of the youthful musicians. “We get jaded sometimes touring the world playing concerts. It’s a real treat to see how excited the kids are to be over here.”

“It’s just such an amazing experience,” said violinist Dawning Welliver. “To be able to be able to see all these places where so many respected musicians have performed. It’s almost overwhelming.”

Many COYO musicians dream of playing in the Cleveland Orchestra. Four alumni currently do, including violist Eliesha Nelson, now in her 13th season at Severance Hall.

“I loved being in COYO, although it was a culture shock at first being from the interior of Alaska,” Nelson said. “Severance Hall was larger than anything I had ever seen.”

Nelson said she remembers how good it felt at 16, “Just to be with other young people who were very, very serious about their instruments, whether or not they were going to become classical musicians. I found that very inspiring.”

COYO played Brahms, Wagner, Dvorak and Elgar in Prague and Vienna, and it will be the same program Wednesday at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the final stop on COYO’s tour.

After listening to the orchestra Monday night in Vienna, Welser-Most said he was sure he would someday lead some of the COYO musicians as members of the Cleveland Orchestra.

“I’m certain of that,” he said.

The musicians were practicing in their hotel rooms Tuesday after a morning of sight-seeing. On the way from Vienna to Salzburg by bus, they stopped at the cemetery where Brahms and Schubert are buried.

They had planned that trip on the way to Vienna but had to reschedule it. Tomorrow, before their concert they will visit Mozart’s birthplace.

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